THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

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Introduction

Accuracy and fairness are key qualities in any story. To that end and in that spirit, we present to you the "Writer's Guide to Firearms and Ammunition."

Most journalists don't have the time or the inclination to become experts on firearms and ammunition. This guide has been written to help you understand them better. We've attempted to eliminate the technical jargon and put together a plain English glossary of firearms terms and at-a-glance fact sheets you can use when you need to do a firearms-related story.

Most members of the media strive to be accurate and fair in their reporting. Sometimes, however, an inaccurate word or phrase is used that can significantly alter the audience's impression. This usually occurs because the writer is unfamiliar with firearms themselves, firearms terminology or the firearms industry. One purpose of this resource is to provide plain-language, easy-to-access reference material about firearms. Another, and important, purpose of the booklet is to show that the occasional, seemingly insignificant inaccuracy can, and does, have an undesired impact on meaning.

In one section, we will take a close look at some writing examples. Our intention is not to criticize the writer, but to show that certain terms, such as "high-powered" and "cop killer," are hard to define, often misleading and frequently inflammatory. Additional sections are devoted to laws that deal with owning and using a firearm, statistics involving the use of firearms, a glossary of terms and generic illustrations.

This guide is more than simply an attempt to clarify misconceptions about firearms and ammunition. It is a resource filled with facts and practical hints to help you write accurately about firearms. PLEASE CONTACT US AT ANY TIME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FIREARMS, AMMUNITION OR RELATED SUBJECTS: (203) 426-1320.

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